The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-07-23
AMONG TIE cYPslEs.

AWOv0 t06 0ubSe
A Tine q nay Wnen TAsy GIVE Ths0
selves Up - Unrestrainsa Enjoymsnt
Probably at meals and in the long
evenings, bright with camp-ires and
melodious with merriment. is the Gypsy
man or woman most truly this good
natured and genial animal that never
reveals meanness and ever acts with
genuine. unstudied goodness The
breakfast. though always . meal Of
CHEEKY brightness. is taken with little
jollity, for the duties and doings Of tho
dsy are ahead Of them all. The dinner
is seldom q regular meal. for there are
but few in camp. and the old men, old
women, children and dogs have every
thing their own way. But the supper
il OVERLOOKING with good things and
good spirits. and all sorts uf pranks are
allowable. The camp has suddenly
filed up with three-fourths Of its menu
bers, who have been away during the
day on divers expeditions, and the
breeziness and activity consequent upon
the return have brought the camp
wonderful life and vigor. The substan-
tials for the meal have been Sizing
and simmering from the kettle-sticks
for hours. These are all accounted
for; but there Is an element Of
pleasure and surprise in many lit
tie garnishments which find their way
into camp with the incoming troop Of
| Gypsies. The cloths-usually rubber
blankets with linen spreads upon them
-are laid upon the clean grass plats;
every body helps at bringing the dishes
and food; laughter and badinage go
hand in hand with preparation; and the
repast itself, be it sumptuous, As il
often ia, or meager. as 1t is not often, is
washed down by more genuine mirth
and hearty northumberland. / must
confess, with something q thought
stronger, sometimes-than falls to the lot
of but few in this world. however much
good fortune enters into their condition.
II stragglers from town come and
stare 1t them with exasperating calm
ness, as though the Gypsies were ami
mails in some geological garden, q
sudden hush falls upon the feast until
the intruders retire. or the merr'mens
goes on in their own tongue and under
faces Of ridiculous solemnity. From the
return, however, until the long, slowly
taken meal Is ended. there are sucn
rallyings OF friends. sucn greet'ngs OF
husbands and wives nrotners ano
sisters parents ana c1,loIen' suc1
kindly notice OF the DID, oid ioik' sucn
revelry with babies ana sucn proud
glad heart-word Tor every nody' tnat no
earnest eyes can look upon ~ al anu not
moisten. because all TINS Is 30 s.ue o. ~
outcast race, and 20 barren ana mease1
in the homes OF our own people. "neFe
too often ins'ncer1ty' amo'aon ant
hcartlessness have taken tne place o
those tender Things wnicn are sne saavar
tion OF . land through It's homes
Then the eventame grows ana gov
again with this good nature. inete
not another care or tno9gnt-weagn. o
the gypsy m'nc. An NV 'uesc nv y
great fires are piled high, and seem i
crackle and sing an added accompani
; meut Of happiness. High up along th
tree-trunks are hung cressets filed Wit
fiaring knots. The fires below shu
ont even the light Of the blazing star
above. and draw the night and dark
lovingly interlaced with century-ol
, tree-arms, over the bright place like